Practical-oriented faculty members garner accolades

Under the leadership of Minister Dorothee Bär, who took office in May 2025, the focus of Germany's Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) has shifted towards research and internationalization.

Research has become increasingly important in HAWs, with Minister Bär emphasizing the need for these institutions to better leverage their strengths in applied research upon assuming office. This commitment is evident in the diverse topics covered by the latest funding requests from HAWs for the "Research in HAW" program, ranging from health sciences and neurotechnologies to climate adaptations in rural areas.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is playing a significant role in this internationalization drive. They are strengthening the exchange of German researchers from HAWs with colleagues from Central Asia, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Topics of exchange include digitalization, sustainable urban development, renewable energies, and resource management.

The DFG's efforts were on display at a conference held in May 2025 in Dortmund, where the diversity of international partnerships in HAWs was apparent. Scotland and Jordan have also been in the spotlight of the international exchange of HAWs, supported by the DFG.

HAWs collaborate closely with businesses and offer dual study programs combining academic studies and vocational training. An example of this collaboration can be seen in the creation of an international startup network at the University of Neu-Ulm.

The DAAD is another organization promoting the internationalization of HAWs. For over five years, their HAW.International program has been promoting the extensive networking of universities of applied sciences. The University of Applied Sciences Niederrhein, for instance, has developed the bachelor's program "Smart Textiles" with partner universities, although the specific partner universities for this program are not explicitly listed in the current data.

Partner universities in the "Smart Textiles" program include institutions from Belgium, Finland, Sweden, and Indonesia. The "Global Women in Engineering and IT" project, on the other hand, promotes academic exchange for women between the University of Applied Sciences and Economics Berlin and its Australian partner universities.

Minister Bär plans to expand programs like "Research in HAW" to further strengthen the international presence and research capabilities of Germany's Universities of Applied Sciences. This commitment to research and internationalization is shaping the future of these institutions, making them key players in the global academic landscape.